Pigeons, protons and psychedelic psychiatry - blogs roundup

Posts on our network this week included a preview of a thought experiment at the British Science Festival, a look at the link between mental illness and sexual abuse, and some new brain myths to keep neuroscience bloggers on their toes

Look at how mysterious it is... no, it’s even more mysterious than that. Come on, keep up! Photograph: Blend Images/REX

Between Susan Greenfield’s new book about ‘mind change’, and a new movie based on the tired premise of people only using 10% of their brains, it seems like we’ve run out of novel misconceptions about the brain. Always happy to help though, Dean Burnett has offered up some suggestions for new brain myths to give neurobloggers a headache.

While the EU clearly needs a robust science policy, questions abound as to whether it needs a Chief Scientific Advisor. Doug Parr explains some of the issues behind the challenges to the role.

One feature throughout story of Ashya King has been his family’s wish for him to receive proton therapy. Jon Butterworth explains the physics behind the treatment, and looks at some of the challenges with the therapy.

Tripping the light therapeutic. Mo Costandi takes us on a journey through the history of psychedelic psychiatry.

An extremely rare photograph was taken last week, of a pregnant petrel showing its egg bump mid-flight. Grrlscientist explains why there was so much excitement about the picture. Plus, here’s a roundup of new books received this week.

A study published this week reports that 40% of women with severe mental illness have been the victims of rape or attempted rape.Richard P Grant looks at the statistics behind the story.

Romain Murenzi was Rwanda’s science minister for nearly a decade. Here, he explains how a science-based development strategy after the 1994 genocide may help other developing countries.